Simon Grayson Ready For Bluebirds

Manager Simon Grayson is looking forward of the visit of Paul Trollope’s Cardiff City to Deepdale.

The Lilywhites gaffer spoke to the media ahead of the Bluebirds’ trip north from South Wales and urged those who missed Saturday’s clash with Barnsley to see a side that despite recent results is playing confident football.

After the loss to the Tykes at the weekend the manager was asked about comments from those who hadn’t seen his side’s performance in the game and he reflected on that as he looked forward.

“I’m a passionate person, I care for my football the club and I get upset when we are losing football matches,” he said. “Speaking to Paul Heckingbottom after the game on Saturday, at 1-1 they thought they were going to lose 3-1 or 4-1 and that’s how well we played.

“What I will say is that if you weren’t at the game and didn’t see how well we played, then come down and see how we are playing.

“I was as frustrated as the supporters were and the players were, because everything we do during our working day is preparing to take that into a matchday.

“The games we have lost this season have been by the odd goal; we are six games in, but it is a long season and we care deeply about what we are trying to achieve.”

Last season saw a very similar start, with the side not picking up the points their performances deserved and the North End chief sees positive things in his squad: “Within that first group of games last season we played very well against Derby and Ipswich and I remember saying that as long as you see your team doing the right things every day an every matchday, trying to implement your ideas, then results will be around the corner,” he continued.

“If you see frailties in your team and you are losing by three or four goals and the players are not caring about the result and the football club, then you do have something to worry about.

“But we are not getting smashed; as a group they do care about the football club and we are seeing a lot positive signs.

“The players are positive about things and Mr Hemmings spoke to me at the weekend and said how proud he was about the way the players played in the second half, so the people that matter in the dressing room and above are encouraged by matters, and I am sure the majority of supporters are of the same opinion.”

The visitors from the principality are in a similar boat, after back-to-back defeats, but the manager expects a tough encounter.

“It is a game we want to win and we think we can win, because of the group of players we have got. Cardiff will make it very difficult. They went to Norwich on Saturday and made it difficult at times for Norwich.

“They played 3-5-2, that they have played all season. They have got some experienced players and players who can hurt you and they are a good team.

“They finished just outside the Play-Off positions last season and have got aspirations to try and do that again. Just because they have lost a couple, that doesn’t make them a bad team, what it will do is motivate them to do better, but we are motivated to try and get a victory that we deserve,” he added.